Method and Computer Program Product for Handling Application References to Undefined Operating System Services

1. A method comprising: detecting a reference by an application for an operating system (OS) service that is currently undefined by the OS or currently unavailable within the OS, said detecting including: checking a list of available OS services when the reference is detected; checking for OS kernel extensions that may be associated with the reference; and providing access to the OS service when a service is found within the list of available OS services or the OS kernel extensions; resolving the reference by: (a) issuing a call to an Undefined Service Response Utility (USRU) executing on a processor of the data processing system and which automatically returns a response to the application indicating that the OS service is not currently available within the OS and which triggers a status of the reference as resolved, wherein the USRU utility is a separate functional component from an application programming interface associated with the OS; and (b) returning to the application a message indicating that the referenced OS service is not currently available within the OS and OS kernel extension; and (c) enabling the application to continue processing beyond the reference, with the message accepted as a response to the reference, such that the forward progress of the application continues even when the referenced OS service is unavailable or not yet defined; mapping the reference for the OS service to the USRU, wherein future references to said OS service are automatically sent to the USRU until an OS update occurs; recording the mapping of the reference; and in response to a receipt of a subsequent reference for that OS service while the OS service remains undefined or unavailable, automatically responding via the USRU to the subsequent reference for the OS service, whereby the USRU provides the application with a response indicating that the requested OS service is not yet available; whereby non-availability of the requested OS service does not result in one or more of a failure condition, a system shutdown, or a system reboot.

2. A computer system comprising: a memory having stored thereon an Operating System (OS) with OS kernel having an OS loader and library; and one or more application programs; a processor coupled to the memory and utilized for executing code of the application programs and functions of the OS; wherein the OS loader includes program logic that when executed by the processor provides the functions for: detecting a reference by an application for an OS service that is currently undefined by the OS or currently unavailable within the OS; and checking a list of available OS services when the reference is detected; checking for OS kernel extensions that may be associated with the reference; providing access to the OS service when a service is found within the list of available OS services or the OS kernel extensions; resolving the reference by: issuing a call to an Undefined Service Response Utility (USRU) executing on a processor of the data processing system and which automatically returns a response to the application indicating that the OS service is not currently available within the OS and which triggers a status of the reference as resolved, wherein the USRU utility is a separate functional component from an application programming interface associated with the OS; returning to the application a message indicating that the referenced OS service is not currently available within the OS and OS kernel extension; and enabling the application to proceed processing beyond the reference with the message accepted as a response to the reference such that the forward progress of the application continues even when the referenced OS service is unavailable or not yet defined; mapping the reference for the OS service to the USRU, wherein future references to said OS service are automatically sent to the USRU until an OS update occurs; recording the mapping; and in response to a receipt of a subsequent reference for that OS service while the OS service remains undefined or unavailable, automatically responding via the USRU to the subsequent reference for the OS service, whereby the USRU provides the application with a response indicating that the requested OS service is not yet available; whereby non-availability of the requested OS service does not result in one or more of a failure condition, a system shutdown or a system reboot.

3. A computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium; and program code on said computer readable storage medium that when executed by a processor provides the operating system (OS) functions for: detecting a reference by an application for an OS service that is currently undefined by the OS; checking a list of available OS services when the reference is detected; checking for OS kernel extensions that may be associated with the reference; and providing access to the OS service when a service is found within the list of available OS services or the OS kernel extensions; resolving the reference by: issuing a call to a Undefined Service Response Utility (USRU), which automatically returns a response to the application indicating that the OS service is not currently available within the OS and which triggers a status of the reference as resolved; returning to the application a message indicating that the referenced OS service is not currently available within the OS and OS kernel extension; and enabling the application to proceed processing beyond the reference with the message accepted as a response to the reference such that the forward progress of the application continues even when the referenced OS service is unavailable or not yet defined; mapping the reference for the OS service to the USRU, wherein future references to said OS service are automatically sent to the USRU until an OS update occurs; recording the mapping; and in response to a receipt of a subsequent reference for that OS service while the OS service remains undefined or unavailable, automatically responding via the USRU to the subsequent reference for the OS service, whereby the USRU provides the application with a response indicating that the requested OS service is not yet available; whereby non-availability of the requested OS service does not result in one or more of a failure condition, a system shutdown or a system reboot.